UCEED 2023 Exam Analysis - Section-wise difficulty, expected cut-off, questions asked

If you consider the question paper of UCEED 2026, then the exam can be considered to be moderately difficult. For instance, of the 68 questions asked, around 18 questions fall in the moderate category, 18 in the moderate to difficult category, while the rest can be tagged easy to moderate. 

In contrast, NIFT and NID DAT are considered to be tougher. This is because in NID DAT, more weightage is given to subjective and drawing-related questions. Consequently, the candidate needs to be very creative and have strong fundamentals to answer the questions. In NID DAT for the B. Des programme, DAT Prelims carries 40% weightage, while DAT Mains carries 60% weightage. 

The UCEED 2024 question paper will have two parts - 1) the computer-based Part A and 2) drawing and aptitude-based Part B. To prepare for Part A, the candidate needs to focus on the following topics: Visualization and spatial reasoning: Ability to visualise and transform 2D shapes and 3D objects and their spatial relationships. Practical and scientific knowledge: Know-how of scientific principles and everyday objects. Observation and design sensitivity: Capacity to detect concealed properties in day-to-day life and think critically about them. Attention to details, classification, analysis, inference and prediction. Environment and society: General awareness of environmental, social and cultural connections with design. Analytical and logical reasoning: Ability to analyse qualitative and quantitative information. Language: Proficiency in reading and comprehending Standard English . Creativity: Grasp of verbal and non-verbal analogies, metaphors, signs and symbols.

UCEED 2026 question paper included a total of 59 questions. The section-wise questions asked in Part A was: NAT (14), MSQs (15), and MCQs (28). Part B included a solitary Drawing-based question. The section-wise difficulty level of UCEED 2026 is given below.

Part B of the question paper included a sketching-based question of moderate difficulty level. The question will carry100 marks.

The qualifying cut-off for UCEED 2026 will be prepared based on the following formulae: Marks obtained in Part-A will be used to shortlist candidates. The cutoffs (Delta) for Part-A marks to shortlist candidates in the OPEN category will be Mu+ (sigma/2) = Delta, where Mu and sigma are the average marks and standard deviation of distribution of marks obtained by ALL the candidates in Part-A of UCEED 2026. The Mu, sigma, and Delta will be rounded-off to two decimal places. The candidates belonging to the reserved categories shall have to fulfil a relaxed cut-off mark, which will be 0.9Delta for OBC-NCL/EWS, 0.5Delta for SC/ST/PwD, where Delta is the cut-off mark for OPEN category.

IIT Bombay usually doesn’t conduct any mock tests for the UCEED exam. So, the candidate may take mock tests conducted for other entrance exams to prepare for UCEED 2026 exam. The candidate may note that in this case the mocks will help them understand how an online exam is administered and the navigation process. However, it is not an exact replica of how the UCEED 2026 exam will be conducted.

The mock tests are to be taken in the last few weeks before the UCEED exam. Avoid taking mock tests when you are starting preparation for the exam.

The official mock tests for the UCEED exam are usually taken in the last few days leading up to the exam. 

So, you can take 3-4 mock tests. The purpose of the mock tests are to help you get familiar with the exam ambience, the question paper structure, and the navigation process.

Unofficial mock tests are more readily available and can be taken at anytime. However, the site offering unofficial mock tests may charge you a fee for taking their mock tests. 

The candidate must focus more on solving sample papers to prepare for the UCEED exam. Note that unlike mock tests, sample papers can be used as exam preparation very early on in one’s exam preparation.